Let us talk about the real frontline of health care

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When most people think about health care, they picture hospitals, doctors and emergency rooms. But ask anyone working in child care, housing, youth services or income supports, and they’ll tell you: health begins long before someone walks into a clinic. 

From the moment a child is born, their health is shaped by the quality of their home, access to early learning, household income, food security and connection to community. These social conditions — what health experts call the social determinants of health — have a greater influence on long-term health outcomes than medical care itself. 

That means you — the housing workers, family counsellors, early childhood educators, income support advocates and community-based frontline staff — are the true first responders in our health system. 

And yet, when it comes to public funding and policy decisions, your work often isn’t recognized as part of the health system at all. 

That’s the disconnect that Get Well Canada is working to address. And, on May 15, we’re inviting you to join a free webinar focused on giving social service organizations the tools, language and data to advocate for smarter, fairer investments. 

The system isn’t broken — it’s incomplete 

B.C.’s health-care system is facing growing pressure, from ER wait times to burnout among medical professionals. But pouring more money into medical care alone hasn’t solved the crisis. That’s because we’re focusing too much on treating illness and not enough on preventing it. 

What’s missing is sustained investment in the services that keep people well in the first place — housing, education, child care, mental health supports and income security. 

This is the central message of Get Well Canada: if we want to reduce pressure on the health-care system, we need to complete the system by treating social services as essential health infrastructure. 

Advocacy tools for the frontline 

The upcoming webinar will introduce practical tools and strategies for organizations looking to influence public investment, most notably, the SE/M ratio, which compares how much governments spend on social and education supports versus medical care. 

We’ll also walk through:

  • Key messaging that reframes social services as health care.
  • Advocacy tactics.
  • Opportunities to collaborate with other organizations across the province. 

If you’ve ever struggled to explain why your work should be better funded — or wondered how to tie your programs to “health” in a way that resonates with decision-makers — this webinar is for you. 

Join us May 15 

Let’s change the conversation about what health care really means. Let’s show that the frontline of health doesn’t begin at the emergency room — it begins at the front door of your child care centre, housing office or neighbourhood outreach program. 

Register for the webinar today.

We hope to see you there. 

Because the best way to get well is to invest in what keeps us well. 

3D rendered map of Canada in red with raised terrain features on a light grey background.hartono creative studio

Community Connect – May 06, 2025

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Stories, updates and insights from B.C.’s social services sector

Table of contents

  • Reconciliation
  • Careers and events
  • Families
  • Get Well Canada toolkit webinar
  • Children
  • Stronger Together 2025
  • Women
  • Seniors
  • Youth
  • Disabilities
  • Good news

Reconciliation

Here’s how the 15th Red Dress Day is being marked in B.C. | CBC News

May 5 marks the 15th Red Dress Day in Canada, a national day of awareness and remembrance for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress project. Across British Columbia, ceremonies, marches and installations of red dresses are taking place to honour those lost and to call attention to the ongoing violence Indigenous women face — 63 per cent have experienced assault, and they are six times more likely to be murdered than other women in Canada. The day also draws attention to the lack of justice in many cases, including those of Tatyanna Harrison, Chelsea Poorman and Noelle O’Soup, whose deaths in Metro Vancouver in 2022 remain under investigation. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and Justice for Girls will join families of the women to make a statement, reinforcing calls for justice and safety. Those unable to attend in person are encouraged to wear red in solidarity.

Related:

Careers and events

The Federation is dedicated to supporting our members and strengthening the broader community social services sector. We offer a range of ways to stay informed, build connections, and grow your skills.

Stay informed about the latest in the sector by exploring  of training sessions, webinars, and events designed to help you succeed.

Get connected and expand your professional network through opportunities created specifically for community social services professionals.

Looking for a new career? Explore current  and find your next opportunity in the community social services sector.

Visit  today to discover all the ways we can support you!

Families

Rally in Maple Ridge, B.C., calls for more education funding amid ongoing cuts | CTV News

Parents, teachers and education advocates gathered outside Education Minister Lisa Beare’s office in Maple Ridge, B.C., on May 3 to demand increased funding for public education amid widespread budget cuts. Organized by local parent advisory councils, the rally highlighted growing concerns about mounting deficits across B.C. school districts and the impact on students, especially those with disabilities or mental health needs. Laura Kwong, chair of the New Westminster District parent advisory council, said cuts to staffing, transportation, learning support and school maintenance are pushing the system to a “tipping point,” with federal pandemic funding now depleted and inflation worsening the situation. Similar rallies are planned across the province, including in Kamloops and Surrey, where roughly 50 positions are being eliminated due to a $16-million shortfall.

Related:

Get Well Canada toolkit webinar

“What if we treated housing, income, child care and education as essential health infrastructure?”

That’s the bold premise behind the Get Well Canada campaign — and it’s backed by science. Join us on May 15 for a free webinar designed for social services organizations.

Let’s talk about strategy, budget influence and real change.

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Children

Six children with mobility challenges, including four-year-old Prescott, had the chance to walk with the help of a robotic exoskeleton during a visit from Trexo Robotics to Kelowna’s Kids Physio Group on May 4. The Toronto-based company brought one of its adjustable devices — designed to suit each child’s size, strength and mobility needs — for families to try free of charge. Trexo sales specialist Marc Robert said the goal is to gradually reduce the machine’s motorized assistance as a child gains strength. For Prescott, who first used the robot at age two to take her first steps, it was a welcome return. Her mother, Lindsey Roche, said seeing her daughter standing and interacting with other kids was exciting, as Prescott typically spends most of her time sitting or lying down.

Related:

Stronger Together 2025

 

Join us on June 12–13 in Kelowna for Stronger Together 2025, The Federation’s annual conference and AGM presented by the Federation Association Benefit Plan.

This year, we’re diving deep into resiliency and exploring how we can strengthen our collective voice to ensure a strong, thriving community social services sector.

Don’t miss out! Early bird pricing and hotel group rate for Stronger Together 2025 are available until May 12.

  • Early bird: $239
  • Hotel group rate: $279

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Because we are stronger together — and altogether better.

Women

The Osoyoos Bike Club is offering Women on Wheels mountain biking classes this spring, with sessions scheduled for May 16 to 18 and May 23 to 25. Announced by the Town of Osoyoos on Wednesday, the classes aim to teach women the basics of mountain biking safety while encouraging outdoor fun. Previous sessions have covered topics such as bike setup, body position, braking techniques and basic maintenance. Participants are required to bring a well-maintained mountain bike with disc brakes and a helmet.

Related:

Seniors

 

The Village of Harrison Hot Springs is considering a redevelopment plan combining seniors housing with a new civic office on its four-acre Hot Springs Road property. All three proposed designs include dedicated space for older adults, which is projected to occupy a quarter of the site, alongside a new city hall, public park, daycare, and arts and culture amenities. One option — favoured by residents at a recent open house — would seek funding through BC Builds to deliver stand-alone seniors housing with added supports. Another design proposes a health-focused anchor tenant to provide preventive and ongoing care for older adults. While councillors expressed concerns about mixing residential and civic uses in one building, staff emphasized the plan is still conceptual and elements from all three proposals could be blended in the final design.

Related:

Youth

 

Katisha Paul, UBCIC Youth Representative, Elected Global Indigenous Youth Caucus Co-Chair at the United Nations Permanent Forum | UBCIC

 

Katisha Paul — the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs’ youth representative — has been elected co-chair of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus at the 2025 United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. A member of W̱SÁNEĆ (W̱JOȽEȽP) and Lil’wat Nations, Paul will help coordinate Indigenous youth representatives from seven global regions and serve as a key liaison with governments and UN bodies. In her remarks, Paul emphasized the importance of youth leadership in advancing Indigenous rights, environmental justice and self-determination. The UBCIC, which attended the forum to advocate for binding action on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, praised Paul’s appointment as a powerful step toward centring Indigenous youth voices in international decision-making.

Related:

Disabilities

 

Company starts non-emergency medical trip service for West Kootenay residents | Castanet

NOW Shuttle, a Vernon-based, government-licensed transportation company, has launched a non-emergency medical trip service in the West Kootenay. As of early May, a wheelchair-accessible van and SUV are based in Trail, serving Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and nearby communities with transportation to Kelowna for medical appointments and procedures. The service supports individuals with illness or disability, offering private trips to health-care facilities, including dialysis clinics, cancer treatment centres and hospitals. Each van can accommodate one person using a mobility device and up to three additional passengers, and is equipped with rear-entry ramps and secure tie-downs for safety.

Related:

Good news

If you have any feel-good, weird, fascinating or amusing stories you’d like to see included in this section, send them to !

Community Connect is your biweekly roundup of news, ideas and voices from across B.C.
Curated by The Federation.

Note
The articles in Federation newsletters are for informational purposes and do not relate to the Federation’s advocacy work. We want our membership to stay informed of news relevant to our sector; the inclusion of a story is not an endorsement.

 

What is the SE/M ratio and why should social services care?

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How do we measure whether government spending truly aligns with our communities’ health needs? In British Columbia, one of the simplest and most powerful answers is the SE/M ratio — a key performance indicator that compares Social and Education spending (SE) to Medical spending (M). 

It is a tool that is gaining traction with researchers, policymakers and advocates alike. And it is one that every social services organization should be using. 

On May 15, we are inviting you to a free Get Well Canada webinar that will show you how to use the SE/M ratio to strengthen your messaging, make the case for funding and advocate for healthier communities. 

What the SE/M ratio tells us 

The SE/M ratio reflects how governments allocate resources between the root causes of well-being — like housing, income, education and child care — and the treatment of illness through medical care. 

A ratio above 1.0 means that a government is spending more on social and educational supports than on medical care — a pattern linked to better health outcomes, lower health-care costs and reduced inequality. 

A ratio below 1.0 means that more money is being funnelled into clinics and hospitals, even as the social conditions that make people sick remain underfunded. 

In 1976, B.C.’s SE/M ratio was 1.22. That year, we spent 22 per cent more on social and education services than on medical care. Since then, the ratio has dropped steadily. In 2023, it was 0.92. By 2026, it is projected to fall even further to 0.87 — a sign that we are investing more and more in treating sickness, and less in preventing it. 

Why does this matter to you 

If you work in social services, you already know how deeply your programs impact people’s health. Whether you are supporting safe housing, delivering child care, advocating for income supports or running youth and family programs, your work is frontline health work — even if it is not often funded that way. 

The SE/M ratio gives us a concrete, measurable way to show that investing in social services is investing in health. It shifts the narrative from “health equals health care” to “health starts in our homes, communities and support systems.” 

This is why Get Well Canada is calling on governments to track and report the SE/M ratio in annual budgets — and why we are inviting social sector leaders to use this tool in their own advocacy. 

Join the webinar, learn the tool 

On May 15, join us to explore how you can apply the SE/M ratio in your messaging, funding proposals and public advocacy. Learn how this simple metric can elevate your voice, strengthen your organization’s role in policy conversations and help create a healthier and more equitable B.C. 

Register here.

Let us shift the numbers — and the narrative — together.

B.C.’s health depends on more than medical care. Let us make sure budgets reflect that.

Statement from the Federation of Community Social Services of BC On the Provincial Day of Mourning for the Lapu Lapu Day Tragedy

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The Federation of Community Social Services of BC joins our members and communities across the province in mourning the lives lost and the many harmed by the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy. What was meant to be a joyful celebration of Filipino heritage became a moment of profound grief for families, neighbours, and an entire community.

We honour the 11 lives taken and acknowledge the deep pain felt by survivors, families, and one of BC’s largest and most vibrant cultural communities. Our hearts are with all those affected.

As a voice for BC’s community social services, we also recognize the increasingly urgent mental health challenges facing individuals and families. These complex realities are not about blame, but they do remind us of what’s at stake when support systems are strained or insufficient. Without thoughtful, upstream investment in prevention and care, communities are left more vulnerable — not only to crisis, but to the lasting harm it can cause.

The Federation will continue to advocate for stronger community-based mental health supports, and for a social safety net where all people — especially those most at risk — are safe, connected, and supported.

To share condolences, the City of Vancouver has opened a book of remembrance online and at City Hall from May 1 to 15. Support services are also available through the Vancouver Police Department’s Victim Services Unit and VictimLinkBC.

In remembrance and solidarity,
The Federation of Community Social Services of BC